When will the street construction end in downtown Tacoma? For one project, this month

One of the two street construction projects along Fawcett Avenue in Tacoma is soon to be completed.

The Fawcett Avenue project and the Revitalizing Tacoma’s Brewery District project will improve South Fawcett to serve as a north and south connection for bicycles and pedestrians in the brewery district, said Darius Thompson, the project manager.

The Fawcett Street project is set to be completed this month, and the Brewery District project is anticipated to be finished by the end of the year, depending on weather.

The completed project on South 21st Street from Tacoma Avenue to Jefferson Avenue, and Fawcett Avenue from South 19th to South 21st Street will include new asphalt and concrete pavement, lighting, utilities, vehicle/pedestrian detection, street trees and pedestrian-related improvements, like median refuge islands and a hybrid pedestrian beacon at the intersection of South 21st Street and Fawcett Avenue.

Fawcett Avenue is a main bicycle boulevard through downtown and will include mid-block traffic-calming bulbouts, sharrow, or a shared lane marking, and bicycle detection between South 21st and South 19th streets.

The Fawcett Avenue project cost $7.4 million and was funded through federal grants, the city of Tacoma and utility contributions.

The final step of the Fawcett project is to connect power to street lights and the HAWK beacon, the high-intensity activated crosswalks.

The Brewery District project started in January and will cost $8.1 million.

It will construct traffic-calming measures along Fawcett Avenue, from South 19th Street to 6th Ave., which will consist of new curb ramps, curb extensions, pedestrian-refuge islands, mid-block crossings and other upgraded crossings. The majority of the roadway will be repaved. The project includes a striped bicycle lane along South 15th Street, from Yakima to Fawcett avenues. A HAWK beacon will also be installed at the South 19th Street and Fawcett Avenue intersection. Tacoma Water replaced a main along Fawcett Avenue.

Demolition and paving on 15th Street to 6th Avenue along Fawcett Avenue, the HAWK signal on 19th and Fawcett installation, landscaping, channelization and wayfinding sign installation are remaining for the project.

Thompson said the project is to better connect people to and from the Brewery District, the Tacoma Link Light Rail extension and the Tacoma Dome.

The speed limits on South 21st Street and Fawcett Avenue will remain 25 mph. Traffic calming was installed along the Fawcett corridor to discourage speeding. At the mid-block raised crossings, 15 mph advisory speed signs will be posted.

Both projects are behind schedule.

The Fawcett Avenue project was expected to be finished by summer, and the Brewery District project was to be completed in July. Thompson said both projects were impacted by COVID-19 with reduced crew availability and conflicts with other contractor projects. For Fawcett, the construction also was delayed by weather impacts, underground utilities issues, concrete shortages and manufacturing delays for project materials. The Brewery District project also encountered manufacturing delays, longer lead times for signal equipment and unforeseen underground utilities conditions.

Residents and businesses in active construction areas are notified about work being performed in their area, including any work that affects parking or requires detours, Thompson said. The project team also has monthly meetings with University of Washington Tacoma management to discuss scope and scheduling to ensure parking lots remain open and pedestrians have access to the campus.

John Burkhardt, director of communications at University of Washington Tacoma, said the construction will yield improved infrastructure on all sides of the campus, particularly with pedestrian safety along South 21st Street and Fawcett Avenue.

Burkhardt said because of pandemic-related remote operations, the campus was immune or unaware of the construction projects. Now that the university is back to mostly in-person, those going to the campus have to account for street and intersection closures and how to park. He said there are fewer unregulated spaces close to campus, which some drivers need to park farther up the hill, but there are more spaces at the Tacoma Dome garages. He added the university sent out information before the start of the autumn quarter regarding construction impacts and alternatives to traveling to campus by car.